Hello Tom's Hardware-ians
My old rig just won't cut it anymore (over 6 years old) and I'm so tired of sub 60 FPS even on low settings (usually sub 30 fps ugh) even in games like BF3 my gear just cannot take it (I'm severely CPU limited).
Unfortunately I have a VERY modest budget of only $500.00 US to put together something functional and somewhat expandable.
Here's what I'm giving up (goodbye old friend):
ASUS Maximus Formula II mobo
Q6600 @ 3.0 GHz quad core CPU
8 GB DDR2 Crucial RAM
NVidia 550 Ti GPU
I will NOT be using any parts from the old build because they are going to my daughter except my HDD which yes I realize will most likely give Windows (8.1) fits when I completely swap out all the components.
Here's what I need:
* CPU & Mobo that accepts it (preferably with as much expansion as it can muster and at least 4 USB back ports - I have a lot of peripheral devices back there)
* GPU and PSU powerful enough to run it
* Min 8 GB RAM
* Cheap case (just allot $30 for the case)
* An inexpensive mechanical HDD (this is for my daughter. I am keeping my drives)
Here's what I don't need/want:
* An OS
* An SSD
* A mouse, keyboard or monitor
I've always been an Intel / Nvidia guy but this build doesn't seem practical budget wise verse the performance I'm hoping to eek out of it so I'm looking at AMD/ATI products but not versed in them at all.
I'm eyeing maybe an AMD FX-6300 @ 3.5 GHz for around $100 US or a FX-8320 @ 3.5 GHz for around $150 US. Dunno tbh.
I *might* be able to scrape up a little more (maybe +$50-$100) on the budget.
I hoping to have something that I can expand later on but really want something that will at least last another 2 years or so of "adequate" gaming (which I define as 60 FPS on at least medium settings). My monitor is quite old too and only supports 1366 x 768 which stinks, but the upside is such a low res will help me be able to get more frames then I would at 1920 x 1080 etc.
Thanks for any help, advice, builds, etc.
I know it's a tall order, but I have confidence in YOU because you're smart AND sexy. (Well that's what I heard anyways... you know how people talk)
My old rig just won't cut it anymore (over 6 years old) and I'm so tired of sub 60 FPS even on low settings (usually sub 30 fps ugh) even in games like BF3 my gear just cannot take it (I'm severely CPU limited).
Unfortunately I have a VERY modest budget of only $500.00 US to put together something functional and somewhat expandable.
Here's what I'm giving up (goodbye old friend):
ASUS Maximus Formula II mobo
Q6600 @ 3.0 GHz quad core CPU
8 GB DDR2 Crucial RAM
NVidia 550 Ti GPU
I will NOT be using any parts from the old build because they are going to my daughter except my HDD which yes I realize will most likely give Windows (8.1) fits when I completely swap out all the components.
Here's what I need:
* CPU & Mobo that accepts it (preferably with as much expansion as it can muster and at least 4 USB back ports - I have a lot of peripheral devices back there)
* GPU and PSU powerful enough to run it
* Min 8 GB RAM
* Cheap case (just allot $30 for the case)
* An inexpensive mechanical HDD (this is for my daughter. I am keeping my drives)
Here's what I don't need/want:
* An OS
* An SSD
* A mouse, keyboard or monitor
I've always been an Intel / Nvidia guy but this build doesn't seem practical budget wise verse the performance I'm hoping to eek out of it so I'm looking at AMD/ATI products but not versed in them at all.
I'm eyeing maybe an AMD FX-6300 @ 3.5 GHz for around $100 US or a FX-8320 @ 3.5 GHz for around $150 US. Dunno tbh.
I *might* be able to scrape up a little more (maybe +$50-$100) on the budget.
I hoping to have something that I can expand later on but really want something that will at least last another 2 years or so of "adequate" gaming (which I define as 60 FPS on at least medium settings). My monitor is quite old too and only supports 1366 x 768 which stinks, but the upside is such a low res will help me be able to get more frames then I would at 1920 x 1080 etc.
Thanks for any help, advice, builds, etc.
I know it's a tall order, but I have confidence in YOU because you're smart AND sexy. (Well that's what I heard anyways... you know how people talk)
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